Tag: Budget LBO

Aug 15, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s hub port of Colombo is facing growing competition from other harbours in the region which are being built up to grab a bigger share of India’s increasing trade, industry officials said. The latest threat comes from the south Indian port of Chennai which has just called for fresh […]

Nov 09, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s most powerful business chamber welcomed a government commitment to lower the budget deficit next year, but said reaching the targets was important. “We have repeatedly pointed out in the past that implementation is the key to success in achieving the budgetary targets,” the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce said […]

Here are some of the key government revenue proposals presented in the 2008 budget: – Tax Reliefs for new investments in the Eastern Province – The following tax relief will be available on investments in any undertaking of any nature, where i. The investment is over Rs.50 MN, and ii. Provides employment opportunities for not […]

Nov 08, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s cash strapped government is taxing booze, smokes and cars again to boost government revenues and finance subsidies, the 2008 budget presented to parliament showed. “We have sharply increased taxes on alcohol and cigarettes to discourage consumption,” the budget speech tabled in parliament by President Mahinda Rajapakse said. The […]

Nov 08, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Central Bank has once again promised to bring inflation now raging near 20 percent to single-digits in 2008, while maintaining high growth. “With the persistently tight monetary policy stance and complementary fiscal performance, inflation is expected to be at a single digit level in 2008,” the bank said […]

Nov 08, 2007 (LBO) – Though budget numbers tabled in Sri Lanka’s parliament suggested that no money had been printed in 2007, other documents showed a large bank-financed hole in state finances just weeks earlier. The budget showed that 10 billion rupees would be paid back to the banking system by the end of this […]

Nov 08, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lankan exporters Thursday welcomed incentives in the government’s 2008 budget but warned reduced tax holidays and higher license fees could hurt growth. “The tax and other benefits to the gems and jewellery industry are positive signals as they will stimulate more exports in this sector,” Lakshman de Silva, acting […]

Nov 07, 2007 (LBO) – Incomes earned abroad by Sri Lankans including dividends and interest earned abroad that is remitted through the banking sector would be made free of income tax, according to proposals in the 2008 budget. Profits and income by individuals, partnerships, fees and allowances and dividends or interest from investments outside Sri […]

Nov 07, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka says the budget deficit for 2008 would be 7.0 percent of the economy and the country was hoping to balance its revenues and day-to-day expenditure, a goal that has proved elusive for two decades. The government also promised a revenue surplus in 2007 but ended up with a […]

Nov 07, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka would cap tax holidays to a maximum of three years from 2008, and extend tax incentives only to low income housing and projects in difficult rural areas, President and finance minster Mahinda Rajapaskse said.“(We will) give only three year tax holidays other than for flagship investments, or to […]

Nov 07, 2007 (LBO) – Central Bank governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal said that tight monetary policy and efforts to reduce the budget deficit should trim sky-high inflation in the coming months. He said the government has to maintain a balance between controlling inflation and maintaining steady economic growth. Cabraal said Wednesday the island had coped […]

Nov 07, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is seeking a balance between subsidies and development in a budget for 2008 to be presented today, as officials said planned capital spending had been sacrificed in 2007. “We are at a time when we need to present long-term answers to the problems of the country,” deputy finance […]